Unfortunately, few if any bamboo will survive Zone 4 weather. The ones that are cold hardiest can only handle about -20F. What are your winters like?

hi kudzu9,

I'm also very interested since the temp you mentioned(-20f) is our max coldest here. What would that bamboo name be?

I also don't like an invasive bamboo. I think, what I am looking for is the clump sytle.

Thanks,

Neil

Bamboo that are hardy to -20F are few and will survive only a short cold snap at this temperature. Furhter, they will usually defoliate and have aboveground culm death even at somewhat "warmer" temperatures, especially if you have any significant wind. If you want to try, your choices would be Fargesia nitida or Fargesia murieliae (both clumpers), or Phyllostachys nuda, a runner that will not likely do a lot of spreading in your harsh climate.

I bet the yellow groove bamboo would make it if you planted it in the spring, took good care of it all summer, then mulched it heavily for fall. I'm sure you'd lose all your top growth the first year or so, but I bet you anything it would come back. We're in 5a and get down to -15 at least once or twice every winter, and mine's made it.
I'd make sure to mulch it heavily each fall though. One guy I met was using well rotted manure mixed with the wood shaving from a local horse operation. That sure seemed to make his grow and also provide good mulch.