I planted some succulents (a single one) per each container for interest....these are large 36+ Wide Containers already......Year 1 was fine....even removed it flush with the soil line this winter....but it must have taken off as this year, it's almost 1/4 or the pot profile.

While I like the look of companion plants....there is a thing as too much of a -good thing- right. I'll leave it for this season but will probably just remove it EOY as I suspect presently....it may be competing too much for soil below.....when I observe how large of a canopy it has grown this season.