First, can you check the materials? Simply hit F6 for the material overview and see whether the plant materials look okay. The above screenshot (click onto it) shows how it should look like.

Second, have you maybe changed something on your graphic card/drivers? Or in the Vue display preferences? What you describe is simply the basic plant, without the maps. And this CAN happen when Vue does not have enough resources anymore to display items correctly.

Maybe you can provide us with some screenshots - simply use the "Attach a File:" thingie at the bottom of the replay window.

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.