Bamboo

Has anyone tried growing clumping bamboo?  I know there are a few that will grow in N. Ca. zone 9b.  They are very expensive, so I wont be getting any, any time soon, but it's on my list of want to grow that some day.  It is such a useful plant.  I've considered the other, read several ways to keep it contained, but then I think of the mint that grows in the paths of my garden.  I didn't manage to keep that contained did I.  The difference is I don't mind the mint in the path and yank it out of the garden beds when it has the nerve to sneak in, but if bamboo takes over that could be a real problem.  Any way just wondering if any of you have grown it and if you are happy you did?