Black Bamboos ( Phyllostachys Nigra ) are one of Rogers favourite plants, and he has grown them as a dense hedge / screen along part of his garden in Wales, UK.
They can be quick and quite easy to grow, they seem to love the wet conditions of Rogers clay based soil, and although they quickly send up shoots as high as 18 foot (6 metres) they are not so invasive as some of the other Bamboos.
*Update* Having seen / heard other growers say that Black Bamboo can become invasive and send out 'runners' I have done some further research - and as ever the RHS website ( https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/12869/Phyllostachys-nigra/Details ) provides some usual balanced information. It seems that in cooler gardens like ours here in south wales UK, it behaves as a loose clump forming bamboo, but in warmer climates and 'softer soil it may spread more. But as you can see from the video in our garden ours in that firm clay soil they grow as clumps.
As well as providing privacy as an evergreen hedge, the black bamboos can also hold loose soil in place, suck up excess moisture, and provide a great habitat for birds ... Roger has also seen flocks of birds (sparrows) stripping leaves off the top of new shoots ... possibly as a food source ... but there doesn't seem to be any data to explain this bird behavior ... unless you know something ... please let us know your thoughts via the comments section on this video.