First, really ask yourself if you want to establish a bamboo grove in your yard. I understand that there are various techniques to hold back spreading bamboos (but I am not sure of their ultimate effectiveness and personally would have to call in a professional to do it). Aureum is an attractive, robust species but also very aggressive. I have the following spreading bamboos:

Phyllostachys aureum
P. nigrum (black bamboo)
P. vivax
P. viridis (Robert Young)
Pseudosasa japonica
Sasa palmatum

Of these the aureum is really aggressive (but will grow in your zone) Nigrum is beautiful--has a more cascading growth habit (compared to aureum) and although a spreader is not nearly as aggressive as aureum (NOTHING IS). But I think nigrum would suffer some major leaf burning/die back in your area. Vivax and viridis are also gorgeous with yellow, thick canes, and although classifed as spreaders, I have found them to be surprisingly clumplike in growth (SO FAR).
Sasa japonica is a moderate height bamboo with large leaves. Japonica spreads but within reason. It can show some leaf burn but recuperates quickly in spring and summer. Sasa palmata is also moderate in height but has very big leaves, good cold hardiness and is attractive (not too aggressive as a spreader). I don't have any experience with the clumpers. Bambusa bamboos are mostly tropicals. The fargesia bamboos are super cold hardy clumpers. In the past, I had avoided them because of their limited high heat tolerance (but now there are more heat tolerant species of Fargesia available and some can be grown in the South). What nurseries usually sell, at least around me, is the aureum. The other species I got in the mail (hard to believe given how big they are now!)
If you can get them, I would try growing these in your area:
Fargesia(check species, all are elegant, smallish leaves)
Sasa japonica (see above)
Inocalamus (super big leave with excellent cold hardiness, surprisingly!)

Hi, I'm also new to bamboo and in your same situation, so I've been researching it quite a bit. According to the information I've found on various bamboo websites, fall is a good time to plant (in spring, the plants are pushing up new shoots, so not a good time to disturb them). The hardest part seems to be deciding what variety to plant! If you go to www.lewisbamboo.com they group types by region, which is helpful in narrowing it down a little. I found the choices to be a little overwhelming.

njoasis - I am very impressed and very greatful with the info you just gave. I am also thinking of planting some bamboo (Florida area 9). Which bamboo is the least agressive. I would love to have some planted but am afraid of it getting too out of hand for me to control. Would really appreciate your advice. - susana