Bamboo as a privacy screen

I'm tryng to remember the kind of bamboo that you can use that will not only cover your yard but the whole town.. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

There are lots of different ones, the general term for all of them is running bamboo (vs the clumping bamboos which are much better behaved), but there are a number of different bamboo genera that fall under each category.

So, should I opt for the more well behaved clumping or should I abandon this idea?

Personally I would go for the clumping ones, it's just much less risky that way. The running ones really are impossible to get rid of if they get away from you. But if you do decide to do the runners, make sure you use a root barrier, that can make them a little easier to manage.

ecrane3 Thanks for your input!

any other natural privacy screen that could be used for a small shady yard so that I can turn my small yard into a private garden??

What about a trellis and some vines?

There's a clumping bamboo that our nursery has started carrying called Fargesia rufa 'Green Panda'. Supposedly it's got a very vigorous growth habit yet, does not have an invasive root system and will max out at 10' tall.

I prefer to suggest Chindo Viburnum (V. awabuki 'Chindo') to customers who need a tall, narrow screen for shade. It grows 20' tall but only 6' wide (maybe 8' wide after many years). Many people who see the ones we have planted even think it resembles bamboo. You can also plant them fairly close together (as close as 5' apart) without harming them. The only down side to them is that their first winter in the ground they tend to defoliate even though they are normally evergreen. But then they bounce right back in spring.

For our area you might checking on Alphonso Kerr clumping bamboo. It's a nice clumping that gets big, but is controlled. If you're thinking about that area by your fence near the loquat you definitely want to think in terms of a clumping. A running bamboo will be all over there and beyond that fence and your neighbor won't be happy with you in a short time! LOL! The Alphoso Kerr can stand our temps - some get badly damaged with a frost and look a little ratty.

go for running bamboo only if you hate your neighbor - but first dig a 12 inch trench on your side & fill it with concrete to form a curb that will limit the runners on your side.
Seems I've read about some lawsuits arising from rampant bamboo invasion from a neighbor's yard though. Clumping much better choice if at all concerned about spread - seriously better.

No. I love my neighbors. Think I'll research the Chindo some more!