Triticale is an annual temperate grass or cereal, grown as either a forage- or grain crop. Forage cereals produce forage for autumn, winter and spring. As a forage crop it can be utilised as grazing, silage or hay (if cut at a vegetative stage). It is very drought tolerant. It is more cold tolerant than Oats but less cold tolerant than Rye.

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Like all forage cereals, it is categorized according to its growth form, as a Spring-, Intermediate- or Winter type. Spring types have no requirement for vernalisation (prolonged cold period) and becomes reproductive at specific day lengths. Winter types do have vernalisation requirements, and will only become reproductive as soon as it was exposed to a sufficient cold period, for long enough. Intermediate types lie between Spring- and Winter types on a sliding scale.

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Often produced under irrigation, but requires at least 400 mm rainfall per annum for Winter rainfall areas or 500 mm rainfall per annum for Summer rainfall areas.

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