In your zone planting above ground would likely kill any boo. Nuda and aureosulcata are a few that survive up there outdoors, but in the ground where they can be mulched heavily. Even then you can expect so leaf kill, top kill, and culm kill. Maybe someone from up there will chime in with contradictory experience.

Thanks for your input. I thought it sounded too good to be true. I might be able to wrap the container in winter, don't know if that would work. Any other input would be great.
Thanks

I've had excellent results here w/ P. nuda & F. murielae -but that is in the ground and well mulched for winter (6400 ft elev & -17F last winter). I'm not seeing success w/ aboveground container over winter & metal trough might get too hot in summer.

The only way I see bamboo surviving the winter in a metal above ground container would be if it is insulated and is heated by electrical heat tape.
These threads talk about using planter in cold areas and has photos of a heated planter in Spokane, WA
http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/viewtopic.php?t=609
http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2680#2680

Bill

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like it would be alot more work then I'd hope it would be. I will check out the threads about heated planters!

Will the size of the container limit how high the bamboo will grow? I would like to plant in my yard, but dont want it to be more than 4-5 feet. Any suggestions? thanks!

The size of the container will not limit the size. There are very few bamboo that only grow to 5', and they're mainly the bushy, shrubby ones.