A method for controlling large flows in a network includes asynchronously calculating a traffic rate associated with a network flow by a controller device based on a randomly sampled packet, comparing the calculated traffic rate with a threshold value, and generating a notification of a large flow when the rate exceeds the threshold value. The method further includes creating a filter in response to the notification, assigning an action to the filter, and installing the filter and the action in a network device. In addition, the method includes removes the installed filter and action from the network device after a time interval has elapsed.