If you are afraid of planting a running bamboo (monopodial) because they tend to take over then clumping bamboos (sympodial) are the choice for you. They are shallow rooted and each rhizome produced by a clumping bamboo develops into a single pole. Clumping bamboos are not invasive. Depending on the species you plant, it's eventual size and shape can be estimated with proper knowledge of the species.
Running bamboo can be very invasive. Once a stand of runners has been established it can be very time consuming and expensive to control. I don't want to give runners a bad name...they can be really beautiful and have many uses if planted in a controlled environment or by someone who is willing to invest the amount of work needed to control them with manual labor. I suggest you not plant runners unless you are absolutely committed to keeping them contained. To see some beautiful pictures of clumping bamboos you can google the website for the botanical gardens in Gainesville, FL. Better yet, try to visit them. It will give you a great idea for what full grown clumping bamboos look like in the landscape. Another good source for information and pictures is a book by Victor Cusack, titled Bamboo World. Let me know if this info was helpful to you and be sure to research whatever species you decide to plant...some can be expensive and it would be a shame to lose one due to the climate or some other factor in your location.
