Buy the kind that's not too invasive - if you want happy neighbors. Many types can get easily out of control.

Clumping bamboos can be planted without fear of them spreading beyond their assigned territory. Their rhizomes, the underground stems, are quite different than those of our timber and other non-clumping bamboos. Instead of a horizontal spreading rhizome, they are u-shaped making new culms next to the original plant, spreading only a few inches per year, hence the name clumping bamboo. They range in height from 8 to 25 feet, depending of the species

visit -- www.clumpingbamboo.com -- Many to choose from

thank you triffidkiller, that narrows it down a bit, I will visit that site and hope to find the right bamboo