I have Alphonse Karr for a fence screen in the same climate (TX/LA "Gumbo") and it thrives and looks very nice...I keep it "legged up" about 5-6 feet to see the canes. As for "invasive" AK does not "run" but my clumps "expand" in all directions about 8-12" per year; so keeping them in the 2-3 foot zone where I'd like to keep them in front of the fence without expanding under into the neighbor's yard is an annual chore. This involves a reciprocating saw and a morning of labor, but yields about 20 viable new clumps to spread and share.

Have fun...
Kevlar

Kevlar,
Thank you so much for your comments & help. Really appreciate it!
I've read some more online & think the confusion might be between yellow running bamboo vs yellow clumping varieties. The "yellow" factor didn't seem to be the issue.

savannarose-
You are correct: you can deduce nothing about growth habits from the color of the bamboo. If a bamboo is classified as clumping, it is not invasive; if it is classified as running it is invasive.

B. multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' is a clumper.