Abstract The objectives of this work were to determine whether maize hybrids from different climatic regions were specifically adapted to different temperature environments, or whether adaptation to a wide range of temperature environments could occur. In addition, information was obtained on the characteristics associated with temperature response. This information will be of value when screening maize varieties for diverse temperature environments. It will also provide information on problems that may arise when adapting maize to environments substantially different to the U.S. Corn Belt. The vegetative growth and development of highland tropical, lowland tropical, northern latitude flintdent, and Corn Belt Dent maize hybrids were compared in controlled environment rooms at three day/night temperature regimes. The lowest temperature regime (16/6°C) was near the minimum for sustained autotrophic growth. From previous work, the intermediate temperature regime (25/20°C) was expected to produce the highest dry weight and leaf area at defined growth stages. The highest temperature regime (35/30°C) was near the maximum for sustained growth. For each harvest, entire plants were harvested when a mean of five or eight leaves were fully expanded as indicated by the appearance of the ligule. Different responses to temperature were observed among the hybrids. The highland tropical hybrids (NZIA×5-113 and H28) emerged and grew faster than all other hybrids in the cool 16/6°C environment, but grew more slowly than the other hybrids in the 35/30°C environment. In contrast, the lowland tropical hybrid (3M071) and Corn Belt Dent hybrids (A665×H99 and P3901) emerged and grew more slowly than the highland tropical hybrids in the 16/6°C environment, but faster than the highland tropical hybrids in the 35/30°C environment. The hybrid A665×NZ1A, a cross between Corn Belt Dent and highland inbreds; the Corn Belt Dent hybrid A665×W153R; and the dent-flint cross A665×CO255, showed an intermediate type of response to this range of temperatures. None of the hybrids performed well in both the 16/6 and 35/30°C environments except perhaps A665×NZ1A. This indicates that adaptation to temperature is generally specific and it may be difficult to produce hybrids with broad temperature responses. The difference in growth between A665×W153R and A665×H99 at 16/6°C and 35/30°C indicates that Corn Belt Dent hybrids can vary considerably in their response to temperature. At all temperatures, the highland tropical hybrids partitioned more dry weight to their shoots, maintaining shoot to root ratios similar to those at 25/20°C. However, low leaf area ratios reduced potential leaf areas and possibly dry weights.