"Keeping it in check" is the hard part. You need to check out "clump type" bamboos rather than "running type" bamboos. I have running types here and sometimes a new growth will pop up 10 feet away from the parent clump (which is now huge). You might first check ou the Dallas Arboretum. They have an entire garden dedicated to various kids of bamboo. You'll see some about 3 ft tall, others 30 ft tall, so don't buy something generic without knowing what you're getting yourself into! Also, bamboo canes only live for about 3 years, so once it's established, you need to prune out the dead stuff every year, and that can be hard work, trust me! Good luck!