They'll survive the winter better if you plant them in the ground (I'm assuming from the height that they're C. asiaticum, procerum, or one of the larger species/hybrids, most of which are a little on the tender side in zone 8), but for now, they can be potted, as well. Whichever you choose, you can cut back the foliage (but not into the "trunk", if it's one of those varieties) in order to keep the plant from being top heavy. Some of it may brown off naturally, depending on how many roots were lost in the transplanting. Make sure to keep the plants watered heavily right now - if they're potted, it won't hurt them at all to stand in a tub of water, as long as it's warm outside. Just be careful not to start a mosquito farm - I sometimes use plastic barrel liners with holes drilled halfway up the side (and not in the bottom) for potting these, since that method assures constant water at the roots, but doesn't leave exposed, standing water.

According to the Thad Howard book, C. procerum (the large red-leaved species) and C. x augustum (of which "Queen Emma" is a variety), are somewhat similar. C. x augustum is a hybrid of procerum with C. zeylanicum and is supposedly larger than both parents, if that helps. C. x amabile is another cross with similar parentage. This one is said to have erect leaves while augustum's tend to spread, but that's the only distinguishing factor cited. The hybrids are also supposed to be sterile, but mine have set seed which has subsequently germinated, so either they're mislabeled or the info is not accurate. Nomenclature in this group of crinums seems to be a tangled mess, and there's not a good way to know for sure, unfortunately. Sorry this isn't much help - would love to know more myself, but I think I've exhausted all sources of info at this point.

I love crinums even though they do attract the lubbers in my yard. The funny thing is that mom, who live right next door, rarely has lubbers attack her plants! Here milk and wine crinums have leaves that are at least 5 feet long and are multiplying like crazy. And some of out Ellen Bosanquet are so big around at the base of the plant that I have to use both hands to circle them! When we planted them the some of the bulbs were about the size of a large canteloup. Except for my red/purple leafed crinums and mom's huge white flowering crinum all of our plants were either given to me or were dug up from a place were a house once was but is there no longer, the entire area was left to go wild. This picture was taken a couple months ago. In the bottom right corner you can see mom's clump of Ellen Bosanquet.

I bought some of these for my mom a little over a year ago and they are doing great! The bigest one just recently started blooming and I saw another flower stalk starting to grow on it now. If you live in or near Marion county then Kenny's Place nursery might have some. That's were I bought the ones for my mom.