Those are not clumpers, they are runners. All boos in the genus Phyllostachys are runners. There are many bamboo hobbyists in CA. Fred Irvine should be advertising on craigslist or check with some of the commercial boo nurseries out there. Or even with some of the ABS chapters, I am sure they can direct you to members that grow those varieties.

Well, there you have it. I'm a perfect neophyte when it comes to Bamboo.

But I learn by doing as we all do. So, I'll just bungle onward. I at least, know they are a grass. :)

So the clumpers are ...

Borindas
Fargesias
Thamnocalamus
Himalayacalamus
Chusqueas
Bambusas
Otataea

And the runners include ...

Phyllostachys
Pleioblastus
Chimonobambusas
Hibanobambusas
Semiarundinarias
Pseudosasas
Indocalamus
Sasas
Sasaellas
Sasamorphas

and a bunch of others like ...

Shibataeas
Arundinarias
Bashanias
Sinobambusas
Yushanias
Qiongzhueas

Do I have this much correct now?

I suppose what I read had me set with a bit of paranoia about running bamboos and having them get out of control, but all in all, hey the ones I really found likeable were running bamboos. It's one of those rare times where I find myself guilty of making the picture fit what I wanted it to be, instead of reality.

So OK, I admit, I like the running bamboos better and I guess I'll just have to face my fears. Fear is the mind killer. I'll just have to cut them back every now and then. How much worse can 30 foot tall running bamboos be than crab crass, LOL!

Thanks for setting me straight.

I found a nursery, but they only sell a gallon plant at the smallest. Why can't I seem to find a place that just sells a simple damned rhizome? Or is the gallon bamboo ... a rhizome?

I really wouldn't buy a bamboo plant smaller than a one-gal plant (unless I was very familiar with the owner of the nursery and knew his plants were well established and he was willing to replace anything that didn't make it).

I bought one-rhizome bamboo shoots on Ebay and had them survive a while, but succumb before a single year had passed. (granted my climate is different than yours, but both passed during the warmer months rather than in winter).

Once I wisened up I bought a 1-quart golden groove (from a nursery owner similar to what I described above). Nothing else I have bought has been in less than a 2 gal pot (Temple bamboo and Phyllostachys Nigra)...Though I will confess to buying a 3 gal Nigra and dividing the plant in two pieces to share with my dad who has always wanted it (besides he is in Fl and if my piece dies, I'll be able to replace it from his in a year or so anyway).

There are some pretty reasonable mail order places (as long as you're getting a couple or shipping can be as much as or more than the plant). If you need recommendations, I'm sure people here would gladly make recommendations.

~Chills
oh, yeah...Bearstate....welcome to the forum, I hope you stick around and join the community.