How is Zyra supposed to be played nowdays?

She's always been that long range super squishy focus-my-plants-or-die-while-I-run-away-before-someone-blows-in-my-direction mage. That build magic pen because you mostly dealt damage via plant base dmg.

Her plants barely last a second, have terrible A.I. and frankly don't even deal that much dmg unless fed. Even building and going for that kitey control role in teamfights doesn't work well because the slow got gutted. (Yes I have played her on and off over the last 3-4 years, don't hassle me over patch dates)

Is she really just another flash-tibbers ultbot now? What am i missing?