First‐year seedlings of five latitudinal populations ofAcer platanoideswere subjected to decreasing photoperiod treatment under three different temperature regimes. The depth of the induced dormancy was quantified as the number of days to bud burst (DBB) under defined conditions favourable to growth. The results suggested a close relationship between autumn temperature and the strength of the induced dormancy, with high temperatures combined with short days leading to a deeper stage of dormancy. Northern and continental populations generally had bud burst earlier than southern. The results are discussed in relation to hypotheses for dormancy induction and release.