Phyllostachy nigra is NOT a clumping bamboo, regardless of what you read on the Internet. It is most definitely a spreader (perhaps not AS aggressive as aureus--Golden Bamboo--but a spreader nonetheless). Not sure if there exists a tropical bamboo with dark, or black culms (that may be a clumper), but it would have to be in a different genus (i.e., not phyllostachys).

Hmmm. We had phyllostachy nigra in Portland, Oregon for 15 years before we moved. It never spread at all - stayed only in the area in which we planted it. The corner of the yard in which we did plant it was the lowest level of the yard (the yard sloped downwards) and the shadiest - and since it was the lowest, it was always wet. The bamboo grew up like crazy, but it never spread. And it was sturdy!

Maybe bamboos in the cool Northwest behave differently than boos in the zone 7's plus in the east. P. nigra is a spreader in the east! I still think grow them but expect the necessity of having to control them (at least in the east).

O.K., I had the name wrong. It is Bambusa Lako, Timbor Black. On both sites, bambooplantation.com, & tropicalbamboo.com they call it a clumper. That is the one I am interested in. Any experience with this one?

Yes, B. lako is a clumping bamboo and very cool-looking to boot. However, it is only hardy to about 28 degrees F, so bear this in mind before you fall in love with it. How cold does it get in your Zone 9 area, fluffy?

I live in Los Angeles and it rarely gets that cold. Last year we had a few very cold nights that did damage some of my plants but my bamboo came through with flying colors. Some of the nurserys in my area have a good selection of bamboo but I have yet to see B. Lako. I would love to have some but I might have to order it through the internet.