Ceanothus americanus, “New Jersey Tea”, “red root”
Rhamnaceae

First pic from roadside at MOFEP (outside of Winona, MO), second pic from my the buffalo clover patch in Mount Airy Forest (Cincinnati, OH).

In my experience, this plant likes some sun.

Shrub to 3 feet. Leaves broadly egg-shaped, with 3 prominent veins arising  from base. All veins deeply impressed (distinctive pattern even in the tiniest of seedlings). Base heart-shaped to rounded. Upper surface hairy, lower surface densely and velvety hairy and grayer. Twigs flexible, densely hairy, dark gray-green. White flowers in May-June, showy and fragrant. Upland woodlands or prairies, glades, thickets.

(Hybrid MOFEP/National Park Fire Ecology Manual)

The leaves are safe and nutritious and tastey to drink as a tea.

It has been used as an expectorant (help you cough up mucous and phlegm), and as a mouthwash and gargle for sore throats, as well as being useful as a douche for leucorrhea. The tea is also used to lower blood pressure. Contains tannins, ceanothin, and the flavonoids afzelin, quercitrin and rutin.

(“Medicinal Plants of the Heartland”, Kaye and Billington)