There are lots of different kinds of bamboo... temperature hardiness varies among the different species. Some of them root really easily in soil, however, they spread almost too easily (you'll probably have to do a good bit of maintenance to keep them in line). I've seen them outdoors as privacy "fencing" down in Mexico and they do great, but I don't know what they're capable of up here with the temperature changes in the Mid Atlantic.
This is a good site for additional free info:

http://www.bamboosourcery.com/catalog.cfm

Good luck!

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Snapdragon

There are 2 basic types of bamboo. Running and clumping types. If you plant clumping bamboo, it will be a great plant and perfect for a screen. If you plant running bamboo, you may be releasing a monster. My advice. If it's a running type, do not ever plant it in the ground unless you have acres of land you don't need. I wouldn't even plant a running bamboo in a pot. Scary stuff. It can get away years later and become a massive pest almost impossible to get rid of. So check if it's a running or clumping type.

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The secret is the soil.

Oh dear. I'm pretty sure this is running bamboo. But the "soil" in our yard seems to be pretty hostile to all known life forms. I will take care that it stays in the containers, and see where the science experiment takes us.

I wouldnt be too scared about growing it in a pot....
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The problem with growing them in a pot is they end up too big, so they get potted up, get too big etc. Then one day it's "Too big for that spot, i'm gonna sit the pot out in the garden".
From there it will put a runner out a drainage hole, take root and then it owns your yard.

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The secret is the soil.

those and the wild violets in my yard are what I cheerily refer to as my invasives....

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Snapdragon