Trees are exposed to large spatio-temporal thermal variation. Temperature heterogeneity can induce intracrown discrepancies in the onset and the dynamic of primary and secondary growth and, furthermore, in meristem frost resistance. In late spring, freezing events could be more detrimental to the southern part of the tree, which is likely to exhibit advanced growth and reduced frost resistance. Would intracrown thermal heterogeneity have lagged effects on tree growth and thus modify tree crown shape? Are there compensatory mechanisms between branches at the crown level during the growing season? We conducted a differential heating experiment on young Juglans regia trees in greenhouse. From February to August, the average difference in temperature during the day between heated and unheated parts was 4°C. We explored the responses between heated and control parts in primary (budburst date through visual observation and time lapse photography) and secondary growth (through Linear Variable Differential Transformer measurements and cytological analysis). Physiological changes in relative water content and soluble carbohydrates were also measured in buds and branches. Bud burst occurs two weeks earlier in heated branches. The difference between heated and control branches as well as the synchronism between budburst and secondary growth were explored. On a subset of trees, a controlled freezing event was performed to assess the effect of a false spring event. Preliminary results show a frost dehardening difference and no compensatory mechanisms at tree scale, without synchronism between primary and secondary growth.