Introduction: Zingiber spectabile, a shade-tolerant ornamental ginger native to Southeast Asia, is invading tropical wet forest understories in Central America. This shade-tolerant species is of concern, yet no ecological impact or management assessment exists. Objective: To examine the invasion patterns of Z. spectabile in primary and secondary forests, reproductive capacity, effects on understory vegetation, and the effectiveness of control efforts. Methods: Field trials were conducted in 30-year-old secondary forest and in primary forest remnants in southern Costa Rica that were invaded by Z. spectabile, which was introduced to the region in the early 1990s. Control efforts consisted of aboveground biomass removal and herbicide application to rhizomes. Results: Both primary and secondary forests showed substantial invasion, but stem and inflorescence densities and aboveground biomass were three-fold higher in secondary forests, suggesting that secondary forests are more susceptible...